The UAE Government announced on Friday amendments to certain provisions of the Crimes and Penalties Law, including enforcing stricter penalties for offences involving sexual assault or consensual intercourse with minors.
Anyone who is 18 years of age and engages in sexual intercourse with a female, or engages in sexual activity with a person of the same sex, who is under 18 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten years and a fine of not less than Dh100,000, even if consent is alleged.
Another amendment clarifies that consent shall not be recognised unless the victim has completed 16 years of age. Any individual under 18 years of age involved in consensual sexual acts shall be subject to the provisions of the Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile at the Risk of Delinquency Law, whether the offender is male or female and regardless of the sex of the other party.
